“Of Philadelphia’s 2,000 existing pre-K programs, only 300 currently meet these standards. About half of them are operated by the Philadelphia School District.”
More from GreatPhillySchools: “We kept hearing how important it is to find a high quality child care or preschool program. In response, we worked with many great partners to develop GreatPhillySchools: Early Childhood Education.
“You’ll find lots of information already here: including descriptions, services, and enrollment facts for more than 300 high quality programs serving children 0-5. You will also find resources with useful tips and information like how to secure financial aid, descriptions of different program types, and what quality looks like.
“But the site is not now, nor will it ever be, complete. We will be working to improve it continuously. As more recent data becomes available from providers, accreditation agencies, and the state, we will update the information. We will keep adding more reference materials as it becomes available. All of this will be guided by you, based on your feedback and suggestions. In developing the site, we tried to base every decision on what parents want or need to know.
“Because we know quality is important, we set our bar high. In our database, you’ll find only high quality programs with an educational component.
“Policy makers and providers use all kinds of data in the course of managing centers and systems. While much of this data is available to the public, it is often presented in ways that are not user-friendly. Here, we have taken the same data that is used by policy makers and simplified its presentation so that users can more easily sort and compare providers.
“Still, users should avoid making snap judgments based on a provider’s profile.Keep in mind that every child has different learning needs, and there is no one universal program best for all.
“Without question, Philadelphia needs more great early childhood options. But it has many, and some of these are not enrolled to capacity. We hope GreatPhillySchools will become a helpful tool for your family in finding the best early childhood education choice for you.”
Philadelphia School District’s superintendent Dr. William Hite — a Pre-K for PA “super for pre-k” — remarks about pre-kindergarten, “If we could only do one thing to change the trajectory of student outcomes, it is this.”
Jeff Jubelirer on 6ABC’s Inside Story: “We don’t realize that the problems of education start when our children are 3 and 4, not getting access to high-quality pre-k opportunities.”
On Thursday morning, August 21, Pre-K for PA joined Mayor Carolyn Comitta, Chester County leaders, and educators at the West Chester Area Day Care Center in West Chester, a STAR 3 pre-k program, to highlight the importance of high-quality pre-k in preparing children for kindergarten and beyond.
As parents and educators prepare for the first day of kindergarten, Pre-K for PA is holding a series of “Back to School” events at preschools across Pennsylvania to underscore the need for every 3- and 4-year-old in the commonwealth to be ready for kindergarten through access to high-quality pre-k.
Mayor Comitta was greeted by the preschool’s director, Betsy Billie before she read “The Kissing Hand” while the children were engaged, excited, and focused. We heard kids’ detailed observations of the book and insightful connections to their own lives. Because of their top-quality preschool, these children will be ready for kindergarten.
As Chester from Audrey Penn’s “The Kissing Hand” shows us, all families and young children have anxiety — mixed with excitement — on the first day of kindergarten. Pre-K for PA is working to make sure all children are prepared to start school. This way, children and families can step through their elementary school years learning and thriving academically. We will all benefit in the long run.
Joining us were Robert Patridge, Communications Director of West Chester Area School District, and Alain Oliver and Nelly Jimenez-Arevalo, leaders of the Maternal and Child Health Consortium of Chester County. These leaders have been active partners with Pre-K for PA so we can ensure that every child in Chester county and in Pennsylvania can be ready to succeed on the first day of kindergarten.
Pre-K for PA isan issue campaign supported by individuals and organizations across Pennsylvania who believe that investing in our children is the right choice and an urgent necessity. Our vision is that every 3- and 4-year-old in Pennsylvania will have access to high-quality pre-k. We will not endorse nor oppose candidates, but rather we will advocate on behalf of this vision for Pennsylvania’s children, schools and communities.
Chester County leaders at West Chester Area Day Care Center: Mayor Carolyn Comitta (West Chster) with Alain Oliver and Nelly Jimenez-Arevalo (Maternal and Child Health Consortium of Chester County).>Pre-k children and educators stand with Mayor Carolyn Comitta, Alain Oliver, Nelly Jimenez-Arevelo, as well as Betsy Billie (Director, West Chester Area Day Care Center), Rob Partridge (West Chester Area School District), and Suzann Morris (Pre-K for PA/ Delaware Valley Association for the Education of Young Children).Mayor Comitta reads Audrey Penn’s “The Kissing Hand,” a story to prepare children for their first day of school.
Chester County leaders at West Chester Area Day Care Center: Mayor Carolyn Comitta (West Chster) with Alain Oliver and Nelly Jimenez-Arevalo (Maternal and Child Health Consortium of Chester County).>
